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Show U NAM ERIC AN AMERICANISM Every citizen of the United States is here because he, or his parents, or his more remote ancestors, did not like the conditions under which they lived in some other part of the world. That is is why so many have come from across the ocean and so few have ever gone back. We, our recent ancestors, found in the new World opportunity denied us in the old world, and liberty to seize bpportunity wherever we found it. The first settlers in America brought with them a full equipment equip-ment of racial and religious prejudices. Each new group of immigrants im-migrants brought with them their native distrust of people who did not speak their language, and those who were already here looked iskance at the newcomers who brought a different racial tradition with them. When we consider that it is only a little more than three hundred years since the settlement of North America by Europeans began, it is surprising that we have got along together with so little friction fric-tion between racial and religious groups. One way of bringing about national unity is the dictatorial way whereby the ruler controls every act and thought of his people nt least until they get tired of being bossed and rise up and kill the ruler. The American Way is to let everyone think, act, speak and Worship as he pleases and protect each citizen against efforts of other individuals or groups to deprive him of those rights. Every one in a while leaders of spokesmen of a particular race or religious sect try to stir up trouble for other groups whom they tlo not like. A great deal of that tort of thing is going on now in America, some of it in the name of religion. Many silly people are led to believe that this, that or the other race is plotting the overthrow over-throw of the United States. We do not believe the nation is in any serious danger, but we igree that it is wise to be watchful and to make a public example of misguided preachers and teachers whose Americanism is not sound enough to believe in and practice the principals of the Bill of Rights. |